USA Promotes F-35 as Replacement for F-16s in Portugal

The U.S. has stepped up its campaign to sell F-35 fighter jets to Portugal to replace its F-16s. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. will make Portugal a “very competitive” offer.

This was reported by TWZ.

After meeting with Rubio, Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel stated that Lisbon is seriously considering the American proposal, while emphasizing that other options also remain under consideration.

“The Portuguese government will always make decisions in accordance with national interests. One thing is also clear: we are seriously considering the proposal regarding the F-35, just as we are considering others,” Rangel said at a press conference following the meeting.

Portugal currently operates 25 F-16AM/BM fighter jets modernized under the MLU program, which the country received in the 1990s. These include 21 single-seat F-16AMs and four two-seat F-16BMs, which are based at Monte Real Air Base.

The Portuguese Air Force has not yet officially announced a tender to replace the fighter jets, but the gradual aging of the fleet is making this issue increasingly urgent.

In March 2025, Portugal’s Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo, stated that the country was ruling out the purchase of F-35 fighter jets. The reasons cited at the time were the unpredictability of U.S. policy and the current geopolitical situation.

However, in April, the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force emphasized that the service has not abandoned its plans to acquire the F-35A. According to the Air Force, the F-35 is the only aircraft on the market capable of delivering the necessary technological breakthrough.

The Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale, or Gripen E are being considered as European alternatives to the F-35, and their manufacturers are also actively campaigning to promote their products.

For example, in October 2025, Airbus and the Portuguese Aviation, Space, and Defense Industry Cluster (AED Cluster Portugal) signed a memorandum of understanding to promote the Eurofighter Typhoon as an alternative to the F-35 for Portugal.

As Airbus noted, thanks to the memorandum, “Airbus and AED have laid the groundwork for launching a series of studies aimed at developing a compelling industrial proposal for replacing Portugal’s current fleet of F-16s.”

Airbus stated that it plans to submit a proposal to Portugal regarding the Eurofighter on its own initiative in late October or early November 2026. The package is expected to include not only the aircraft but also financing, industrial participation, and broader military cooperation.

Meanwhile, in March 2026, Saab announced its readiness to launch production of Gripen fighter jets in Portugal should it win the tender to replace the F-16s. The company is prepared for extensive industrial cooperation based on a model that has already been successfully implemented in Brazil.